Fishing rod holder



Dec. 8, 1953 G. D. ADAMS, JR, EI'AL FISHING ROD HOLDER Filed Dec. 17, 1951 George D. Adams,Jr.

Hermon L. Humphries INVENTORS Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FISHING ROD HOLDER Application December 17, 1951, Serial No. 262,092

4 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in fishing rod holders and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising novel means for instantly and automatically setting the hook in the fish when it strikes or takes the bait.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a fishing rod holder of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing a fishing rod holder constructed in accordance with the present invention in use;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, showing the device after it has been sprung;

Figure 3 is a detail view, partially in section, showing the means for releasably securing the rockable rod supporting rack in lowered position;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4#.- of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a spike 8 which is adapted to be driven into the ground, as at 9. Mounted on the upper portion of the spike 8 is an upwardly inclined arm Ill. The arm I0 includes an angularly extending lower end portion II which is pivotally secured to the spike 8.

Rockably mounted on the arm I0 is a fishing rod rack or unit which is designated generally by reference numeral I2. The rockable rack I2 comprises an elongated loop portion I3 formed from a suitable metallic rod having one end portion pivotally secured at M to the arm II) at the angle or bend thereof. At its free end, the elongated loop I3 terminates in an angularly extending bight portion I5.

The rack I2 further includes a forwardly projecting bar I6 which is fixed to the forward or pivotally mounted end portion of the loop I3. The forward end portion of the bar It has formed longitudinally therein a socket or bore (see Figure 3) the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

Pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement on the forward or free end portion of the inclined arm I0 is a substantially U-shaped bracket I8 of suitable wire. In the embodiment shown, the bracket I8 includes inturned end portions I9 (see Figure 4) which are journalled in sockets provided therefor in the arm II]. The bracket I8 further includes a, substantially U- shaped bight portion 20 for the reception of the forward end portion of a conventional fishing rod 2|.

Fixed on the arm I0 at an intermediate point is a guide 22. One end portion of a trigger 23 in the form of a metallic rod extends slidably through the guide 22. The trigger 23 is engageable in the socket I1 in the bar It for releasably securing the rack I2 in a lowered position on the arm II] as shown in Figure l in the drawing.

At its other end, the trigger 23 is provided with a T-head 24 which is pivotally secured between the legs of the bracket I8.

When the fishing rod 2| is mounted on the rack I2, the handle 25 of said rod is engaged in the angularly turned bight portion I5 of the loop I3.

The inner portion of the rod 2| rests on the bar I6 where it is secured by means including a resilient clamp 26. The rod is further secured by a latch 21 (see Figure 6) having one end pivotally secured at 28 to the bar I6. At its free end, the latch 21 terminates in a hook 29 with which a suitable keeper 30 is engageable for securing said latch in a closed position over the rod 2 I.

A suitable coil spring 3| has one end connected to the lower portion II of the arm I0 and its other end connected, as at 32, to the loop |3 of the rack I2.

It is thought that the manner in which the device is used will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, to mount the rod 2| on the device, the handle 25 is inserted in the bight portion I5 of the loop l3 and said rod is forced into the resilient clamp 26 on the bar It. The latch 21 is then swung over the rod 2| and secured. The rack I2 is then swung in a vertical plane on the arm I0 against the tension of the coil spring 2| until the bar I6 comes to rest on said arm and the outer portion of the rod 2| is engaged in the bight portion 20 of the swingable member I8. When in position to receive the rod 2|, the member I8 extends upwardly at an inclination from the arm and the trigger 23 is engaged in the socket H for securing the rack l2 in a set position against the tension of the spring 3|. Now, when a fish strikes and pulls or tugs on the line 33, the rod Si is flexed downwardly for actuating the bracket I8. In this manner the trigger 23 is withdrawn from the socket I? for releasing the rack l2, which with the rod 2! firmly secured in position thereon, is instantly swung upwardly by the coil spring 31 for setting the hook in the fish.

It is believed that the many advantages of a fishing rod holder constructed inaccordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment, of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrange.- ment of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I-Iaving described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a fishing rod holder including a support, a rack pivotally mounted at an intermediate point, for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the support, means for securing a fishing rod in position on said rack, a spring connected to one end portion of the rack and to said support vfor actuating said rack in a direction to elevate the forward end of the rod, and means operable by the rod andzengageable with the other end or the rack for vreleasarfqly securing said rack against actuation by the spring, the last named means including a bracket pivotally mounted on said support and including a substantially U-shaped portion for jthereception of the rod, and a trigger slidably mounted on the support and pivotally connected to the bracket for actuation thereby, said trigger beingengageable with said other end of the rack for securing the same against swingins ,mpvement on said support.

2. In a fishing rod holder including a support and ,a vertically swingable rack carried by the support, spring means for swinging the rack in a 4 end of said rod element to retract the rod element from the bore as the member is swung downwardly and forwardly.

3. In a fishing rod holder including a support and vertically swingable rack carried by the support, spring means for swinging the rack in a direction to elevate 'arodheld ,thereon, means retaining the rack against;swingingrnovement until a fish strikes the line on a rod held on the rack, said means comprising a guide fixed to the support, a rod element slidably carried by the guide, said rack having a blind bore adapted to receive the rear endof said rod, a U-shaped wire bracket ,pivotally connected to the support and forming a fishingrod rest, said rod element extending through the bracket, and a cross bar at the forward end of' said rod element engaged .Withthe bracket, said bracket being adapted to be swung forwardly and downwardly from a vertical position in response to downward flexing of a fishing rod on the rack in order to pull the o element forwardly out of engagement with the rack.

4. A fishing rod holder of the character described comprising a support, a rack pivotally mounted at an intermediate point, for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the support, means for securing a fishing rod in position on said rack, a spring connected to one end portion of the rack and to said'support for actuating said rack in a direction to elevate the forward end of the rod, and means ,operable by the rod and engageable with the other, end of the rack for releasably securing said rack against actuation by the spring, said last named means in cluding a sliding rod carried by the support and engageable with the rack and a swingable pole rest on the support engaged with the sliding rod to retract the same relative to the rack.

HERMON L. H MPHRIES. GEORGE D, ADAMS, J13.

References Cited in the file .of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 157,716 -Wortman Mar. 14, 1950 1,957,353 Sibley May 8, 1934 2,293,305 Oldham Aug. 18, 1942 2,551,996 Cherubini May. 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,759 Great Britain 1893 

